Some embodiments teach an electrical device configured to emulate a high frequency electrical noise signal on an electrical power line. The electrical device can include: (a) a monitoring module configured to detect usage of electrical power from an electrical power line by a first one of one or more electrical appliances; (b) an emitter module configured to generate an emulated high frequency electrical noise signal, the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal emulates electrical noise from a switch mode power supply; (c) a first electrical coupling mechanism configured to couple to a first one of the one or more electrical outlets; and (d) a second coupling mechanism configured to couple to the first one of the one or more electrical appliances. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An electrical device configured to emulate a high frequency electrical noise signal on an electrical power line, the electrical power line coupled to one or more electrical outlets, the electrical device configured to be coupled to one or more electrical appliances, the electrical device comprising: a monitoring module configured to detect usage of electrical power from the electrical power line by a first one of the one or more electrical appliances; an emitter module configured to generate an emulated high frequency electrical noise signal, the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal emulates electrical noise from a switch mode power supply; a first electrical coupling mechanism configured to couple to a first one of the one or more electrical outlets; and a second electrical coupling mechanism configured to couple to the first one of the one or more electrical appliances, wherein: the emitter module is further configured to generate the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal when the monitoring module detects the usage of the electrical power by the first one of the one or more electrical appliances; the emitter module is further configured to provide the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal to the first electrical coupling mechanism; the first electrical coupling mechanism is further configured to place the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal on the electrical power line; the first electrical coupling mechanism is configured to receive the electrical power from the first one of the one or more electrical outlets; and the second electrical coupling mechanism is configured to provide the electrical power to the first one of the one or more electrical appliances.
2. The electrical device of claim 1 , wherein: the monitoring module is further configured to detect an amount of the electrical power used by the first one of the one or more electrical appliances.
3. The electrical device of claim 2 , wherein: the emitter module is configured to generate the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal with a frequency dependent upon the amount of the electrical power used by the first one of the one or more electrical appliances.
4. The electrical device of claim 3 , further comprising: a first user input device coupled to the emitter module and further configured to allow a user of the electrical device to specify a frequency range of the frequency of the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal.
5. The electrical device of claim 2 , further comprising: a first user input device coupled to the emitter module and further configured to allow a user to select whether a frequency of the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal is a fixed frequency or if the frequency of the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal is dependent upon the amount of the electrical power used by the first one of the one or more electrical appliances.
6. The electrical device of claim 1 , wherein: the emitter module is further configured to generate the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal when the monitoring module detects the usage of the electrical power above a predetermined threshold by the first one of the one or more electrical appliances.
7. The electrical device of claim 1 , wherein: the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal has a frequency in a range of 300 kilohertz to two megahertz.
8. The electrical device of claim 1 , wherein: the emitter module is configured not to emit the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal when the first one of the one or more electrical appliances is not drawing the electrical power.
9. The electrical device of claim 1 , wherein: the monitor module comprises: a voltage measurement module configured to measure a voltage across the first one of the one or more electrical appliances; a current measurement module configured to measure a current used by the first one of the one or more electrical appliances; and a power calculation module configured to receive the voltage from the voltage measurement module and the current from the current measurement module and further configured to determine an amount of the electrical power used by the first one of the one or more electrical appliances.
10. The electrical device of claim 9 , wherein: the power calculation module is further configured to determine the amount of the electrical power used by a first one of the one or more electrical appliances at two or more predetermined intervals.
11. The electrical device of claim 1 , wherein: the emitter module comprises: an analog filter circuit; and a signal generation module configured to generate the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal.
12. A method to emulate a high frequency electrical signature using a first electrical device, the first electrical device coupled to an electrical power line and a first electrical appliance, the method comprising: receiving electrical power from the electrical power line at a first electrical coupling mechanism, the electrical power received from the electrical power line corresponding to an amount of electrical power being used by the first electrical appliance; monitoring usage of the electrical power from the electrical power line by the first electrical appliance; generating an emulated high frequency electrical noise signal, the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal emulates electrical noise from a switch mode power supply; and emitting the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal on to the electrical power line.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein: generating the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal comprises: generating the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal with a frequency dependent upon the amount of the electrical power used by the first electrical appliance.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising: receiving from a user of the first electrical device an indication of a frequency range of the frequency of the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: monitoring general electrical noise transmitted over the electrical power line; and using at least one second device to associate the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal with the usage of the electrical power by the first electrical appliance.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein: generating the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal comprises: generating the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal only when the electrical power is used by the first electrical appliance.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: providing the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal to the first electrical coupling mechanism, wherein: emitting the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal on to the electrical power line comprises: using the first electrical coupling mechanism to place the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal on the electrical power line.
18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: providing the electrical power to the first electrical appliance.
19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: coupling the first electrical device to the first electrical appliance.
20. A system configured to measure electrical power used by one or more electrical appliances coupled to an electrical power line, the electrical power line coupled to one or more electrical outlets, the system comprising: a first electrical device configured to emulate a high frequency electrical noise signal on an electrical power line, the first electrical device configured to couple to one or more electrical appliances, the first electrical device comprising: a monitoring module configured to detect usage of electrical power from the electrical power line by a first one of the one or more electrical appliances; an emitter module configured to generate an emulated high frequency electrical noise signal, the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal emulates electrical noise from a switch mode power supply; a first electrical coupling mechanism configured to couple to a first one of the one or more electrical outlets; and a second electrical coupling mechanism configured to couple to the first one of the one or more electrical appliances, and an electrical usage detection device configured to monitor general electrical noise transmitted over the electrical power line, wherein: the monitoring module is further configured to detect an amount of the electrical power used by the first one of the one or more electrical appliances; the emitter module is configured to generate the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal with a frequency dependent upon the amount of the electrical power used by the first one of the one or more electrical appliances; the emitter module is further configured to generate the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal when the monitoring module detects the usage of the electrical power by the first one of the one or more electrical appliances; the emitter module is further configured to provide the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal to the first electrical coupling mechanism; the first electrical coupling mechanism is further configured to place the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal on the electrical power line; the first electrical coupling mechanism is configured to receive the electrical power from the first one of the one or more electrical outlets; and the second electrical coupling mechanism is configured to provide the electrical power to the first one of the one or more electrical appliances.
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April 11, 2012
January 7, 2014
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